Located in Beitou District, Kawayu (‘Chuan Tang’) is an all-male, all-naked spa with authentic Japanese onsen setting. Open 24 hrs.

In addition to an open-air natural hot-water pool, there is a shower area, steam room, jacuzzi and a cold-water tub. Everybody goes commando, so you can’t be shy here. Foreigners are welcome.

There are many spas in this area and signs are in Chinese, so make sure you’re in the right place. Buy a ticket and walk through the alley past the restaurant. To your left, you’ll see the spa’s entrance and a staff collecting tickets. Coin lockers available but can get full during peak hours.

Take the MRT to Beitou Station then a taxi, or get off at Shipai Station (3 stops before Beitou) and catch bus #508, 535 or 536 in front of China Trust Bank. From there, it’s 11 stops to “Shin Yi 3” which is 50 metres from the spa’s entrance.

Hot (Springs) tip: Spend over 400TWD in the restaurant to receive a free ticket to the hot spring. We tried their set menu and it was delicious. The restaurant has a nice view overlooking the stream and a great atmosphere.

WHAT PEOPLE SAY...

“Arrived Friday 3pm same day & time week before Huang Ding. Huang Ding almost all the guys were gay. Here most people straight and much older crowd. No smiles and no eye contact here. Smaller steam room here with even less chance to play. But overall nicer facilities to relax“

“I think the statement that TravelGayAsia posted with the link to Kawayu Spa and saying its a gay popular hot spring has to be removed. This hot-spring no longer welcome gay. Most of the locals go to 皇鼎 now. Only miss leaded tourists still go to 川汤 (Kawayu. After the renovation, the favorite wooden steam room where most action takes place was replaced by a glass steam room and people outside can see what happening inside. Their staffs also on and off walk in the pool area and inspect. Very gay unfriendly...

皇池 also gay unfriendly with alarm bell in the steam room to alarm any inappropriate action. However it still attract bears and uncles. Notice some actions in the toilet. Guess no one care about the warnings. If you look for fit or muscle men, this is not the right place unless during gay pride or any travel peak season whereby many tourist come here either other hot spring too crowded or there are not aware of 皇鼎。“

“My. First trip to Taipei in 2006 I was taken to many crazy places: Jump for Follow Me, a home pa, and the last stop was here. Back then it was crazy. Every kind of guy was there twink's, muscle, bear, whites/tourists. U could go in the steam room and get blow or more. That's all changed. They have clearly made it more family fiendly. The steam rooms wooden walls have been replaced with see thru glass so the boss can see what's going on in side. U can flirt there maybe a get a number, their ain't no action anymore. One time I went there at like 0600 am. Three toothless old men staring at us. We split. 6 years ago it was a party, now it's a straight peopel place. Pass“

“Seriously, don't go there. Currently, there has been an issue on internet which make this place not friendly toward us anymore. It's fine if you want to just enjoy hot spring, but really not for cruising (especially since there's a lot of str8 guys and children). Now most Taiwanese gay avoid this place. You can always go Huang Chi or Huang Ding instead (located very closed to this)“

“All male and all nude, but I saw no evidence of anything gay about it. There were little kids there with their fathers when I arrived (Sunday 6 pm). By 8 pm it was all adults, plenty of cute guys in their 20s and others up to about 70. Lots of nice bodies to look at, but I saw no evidence of any touching, much less anything sexual. Just locals soaking and sitting around talking with each other. Pretty small facility, about 150 square meters in all, with four pools of varying temperatures. I was the only Westerner there; I heard no English spoken all night. As at the other hot springs, you must bring your own towel—an unpleasant surprise if you expected it to be like a sauna.“

“From Shipai MRT station take bus number 508/ 535/ 536 (next to KFC) to "Xingyi Rd 3" bus stop (or "Xing Yi Lu San" bus stop on Nokia Here Map). It's on Xingyi road, and takes about 10-12 stops.
Walk about 100m. There will be no English so you must check the website first to get familiar and memorize its logo and its Chinese name and look for the similar image when you get there.“

“Am from San Fran. Visited Oct 11, 2015...not a luxe destination, definitely more of a local spot. Kind of cool that it's located up in the hills but know that after the effort/trek to get there, you shouldn't expect anything more than a 3 out of 5 star at best destination.

Gay vibe is certain. The crowd isn't cream of the crop. Men from mid 20's to the less in shape 40s, 50s, 60s all hang comfortably naked here. The standing room steam room is where you get some fun.

The MRT was the most economical means to get there. If you get off at the BeiTou or XinBeiTou stops, you would have gone too far and exiting at either of these stops requires a 500NT or so taxi ride up hill was what the Information desk folks at these MRT exits told me even though my hotel said these were the correct exits for the BeiTou hot springs.

The ShiPai MRT exit (3 stops before BeiTou on the redline #2 on your MRT route map) is easier and you can take public buses #508, #535, #536 from this ShiPai exit. Head towards the Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC as the locals refer to it) restaurant across the MRT station and the bus stop is right in front. It's maybe a 10-15 bus ride up a quaint residential hill to get to this spa. You alight at Xin Yi Road 4 (after shin Yi roads 1,2,3) across from a fruit/veg street vendor (which is where you catch the same buses to return to the MRT...the return bus stop is in front of a dental business called Model's Smile across from the ShiPai MRT). once you're off the bus, Walk ahead maybe for two minutes and make a right downhill...it's kind of a long steep walk and a little tough to figure directions out but don't be shy to ask locals on the streets since they are usually happy to help.

After you find it, strip down and enjoy you day of all man, all nude, just hanging in the breeze experience...I can't imagine anyone would head out here in the middle of the night so to me it's surprising that it's a 24 hour business.“

“If you enjoy a genuine spa and hot spring tub water, sitting in a pool close to many men with nude bodies of all types, this is a wonderful place among green mountains. Tub with 42°C warm water, steam room packed with hot men. The water makes you quite tired when you stay in the pool longer; outside the pool no seats available to sit down; but I felt absolutely great after several baths and my skin felt wonderful.“

“Went there on 4/2/14 1:30- 4:00pm Tuesday expecting it to be peacefully quiet straight after Chinese new year. But wow! Standing room only! If you like people watching then this is for you! (all shapes and sizes and ages). If not, then it's really like any other hot spring. With the only telltale signs that something isn't quite straight by occasional lingering stares and guys willingness to pack the steam room to the point where even people smugglers would balk.“

“If this is your first visit to Taipei, the trip out to the spa can seem quite daunting. It is well worth the effort though as it delivers a truly unique experience. Super friendly and fun, and provides a genuine taste of the Asian spa experience.“

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